Famous Players

Mokhtar was one of Asia’s best players – and certainly the best Malaysian striker – in the 1970s. In any match, no matter how closely they marked him, Mokhtar always managed to give the opposing team the slip. His prowess on the football field has earned him the nickname “Supermokh”.

As a striker, he is well-known for landing powerful goals. His outstanding ability coupled with strict discipline got him elected as captain of the Malaysian national team. His decision to retire in November 1978 and in October 1982 was a blow to all in the football arena.

Never has there been a national football player that has received more attention than Mohd. Mokhtar Dahari. Born on November 13, 1953 in Kampung Pandan , Kuala Lumpur, Mokhtar Dahari cultivated his interest in football at a very young age, representing his school and clubs in various football matches.

Football was in his blood. He started playing at an early age in school and later for Selangor. It was while attached to the Darul Afiah Club that Mohktar began his football career at Selangor state level. Mohktar joined the Selangor team in 1972 and led the team to victory in the Malaysia Cup matches ten times out of twelve, creating a new record for Selangor.

Mokhtar steered the Selangor FA in winning the Malaysia Cup 10 times and scoring 177 goals in total. In international games, he rallied Malaysia’s national football team in scoring 125 goals in 167 caps.

Mokhtar’s star shone brightly in the 1970s. In 1975, he represented the national team against English giants, Arsenal FC, and won the games 2-0. He scored both goals. Three years later, Mokhtar scored a goal in 1-1 draw against England’s national B team. Mokhtar won his 100th cap for Malaysia’s national football team when he played in the Merdeka Football Tournament match against Japan’s national football team. In 1982, Selangor FA ‘s number 10 had a friendly game against another number 10, Diego Maradona’s Boca Juniors.

He was barely 19 years when he played for Malaysia’s national football team in an international match. He played in the Merdeka Tournament from 1972 to 1981. Mokhtar’s record of representing Malaysia at international matches are countless, so are the goals scored by him.

Among the international matches he has played in are the SEA Games, Asian Games, Pre-Olympics and the Asia Cup. He has also played against football greats such as Diego Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer and Kevin Keegan. Although he retired from the national squad in 1982, Mokhtar was requested to play in the 1984 Merdeka Tournament and represented the nation for the last time in 1985 for the pre-World Cup match against South Korea in Seoul.

Mokhtar retired in 1986 after winning the Malaysia Cup for Selangor FA. He gave his number 10 jersey to the then Raja Muda Selangor. Mokhtar was awarded “Best Player” in the 1986 Merdeka Cup. Like a resounding encore, Mokhtar came out of retirement in 1987 to play one more season for Selangor FA. A year later, he joined Kwong Yik Bank and won the Selangor League.

Datuk R. Arumugam (also known as Spiderman) was a legendary Malaysian national football goalkeeper Selangor. His exceptionally long arms and brilliant saves have earned him the nickname "Spiderman". He was born on January 31, 1953 in Port Klang, Selangor.

He started his football career at a very young age. He made his debut for Selangor FA when he was 18 years old in the Burnley Cup Youth Tournament in 1971. He represented Selangor FA in the Malaysia Cup tournament from 1972 to 1988, a period during which Selangor FA won the Malaysia Cup eight times.

R. Arumugam earned his first call up to the Malaysia national football team in 1973 for the World Cup qualifying round matches in Seoul, South Korea. During his time with the national team, he helped Malaysia win Merdeka Tournament in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1979. He also represented Malaysia in the 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985 Sea Games. His greatest achievement with the national team was the football bronze medal of the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. He also helped Malaysia to qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics Games but Malaysia decided to boycott the Games.

R. Arumugam has earned 196 caps(not all A class international matches) for Malaysia during his time with the national team since 1973 when he retired from international football in 1986. His personal goal was to earn 200 caps.

R.Arumugam did more than play the game. In 1983, he formed his own club, Starbrite SC, as part of his personal contribution to the youngsters in his housing area.

He was killed in a car accident at Federal Highway near Petaling Jaya on 18 December 1988. He is survived by wife Maria Selvie, and two daughters,Subha Arumugam and Rubha Arumugam .

In recognition of his services to both state and nation, the Football Association of Selangor and Public Bank where Arumugam was employed started a trust fund in the name of R. Arumugam on January 5, 1989. He was awarded Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) which carried title "Datuk" by Yang Dipertuan Agong on 4 June 2011.

Soh Chin Aun (born July 28, 1950) was a Malaysian national defender and captain from Malacca. He was born on July 28, 1950 in Malacca. He was known as Tauke or Towkay by his team mate and fans.

In 1971, when he played in the Olympic qualifier in Seoul, South Korea, he was the youngest member of the national team at the age of 21. He participated in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and was the captain of the qualifying team to the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Unfortunately Malaysia did not participate the 1980 Olympic.

However because of his contribution for helping Malaysia to qualify for 1980 Olympic, he awarded Ahli Mangku Negara by Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

His partnership with Santokh Singh was the most solid defence in the much-feared Malaysian team back then. He earned the nickname The 'god of war' for his commanding play. He retired from international football in 1985. In 1999 he become part of the AFC Century Club.

He was appointed as the chairman of the referees’ committee on 13 March 2007. He was the manager of Malaysia national football team from 2007 until 2009.

Although not recognised internationally, he was claimed to have had 252 international appearance for his country, making him the most capped international player in the world.

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4.Santokh Singh (Defender)

Played for :
Malaysia, Selangor

Santokh Singh was a Malaysian national defender from Selangor. He played alongside the late Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun and R. Arumugam.

His partnership with Soh Chin Aun was the most solid defence in the much-feared Malaysian team back then. Santokh currently resides in Setapak area in Kuala Lumpur. Singh appeared for Malaysia in eight qualifiers for various FIFA World Cups.

An instrumental defender, Santokh first represented Selangor in the Burnley Cup in 1971 and played for the senior squad a year later.
In 1973, then national coach M. Kuppan roped Santokh into the national stable for the Jakarta Independence Cup (Piala Merdeka Jakarta) and aided Malaysia to create history by netting the 1974 Asian Games bronze medal in Tehran, Iran.

He participated in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He was also part of the team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but failed to see action in Soviet Union after the government decided to boycott the Games.

Santokh quit Selangor in 1985 but has been playing in several veteran matches in and outside the country since.---------------------------------------------

5.James Wong (Striker)

Played for :
Malaysia : 1974-1982
Sabah : 1972-1985

James Wong was a striker who played for Sabah FA and Malaysia. He was known as King James Wong by the local fans and Ah Fook by his teammates.

James is well known for his physical and finishing touch. His partnership with Hassan Sani produce many memorable goal for Sabah and Malaysia. The most memorable one was in the 1980 Olympic games qualification.

In the 1980 Olympic games qualification, Malaysia manage to win the play-off against South Korea with 2–1 score in the Merdeka Stadium. The scorer of winning goal is James himself thanks to the assist from Hassan Sani.

However Malaysia did not go to the Olympics as it joined the US-led boycott against Soviet Union for the invasion over Afghanistan.

Wong appeared for the Malaysia national football team in six qualifying matches for various FIFA World Cups.

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6.Hassan Sani (Striker)

Played for :
Malaysia : 1978-1986
Sabah : 1977-1984

Hassan Sani (born March 12, 1958) was a Malaysian striker. He played for Sabah FA in the semi-pro league and Malaysia Cup in the late 1970s and in the 1980s.

Hassan started representing Malaysia in youth competition from 1977–1978. He was brought into the senior team in 1978 by national team coach Karl Heinz Weigang.

He is remembered as a member of the potent strike force comprising the likes of Mokhtar Dahari and James Wong (another player from Sabah). He was called lipas kudung because of his agility.

He was a member of the Malaysia squad that qualified for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He is best remembered for setting up the winning goal for James Wong against South Korea that won Malaysia the ticket to the Olympics.

Unfortunately, Malaysia did not go as it joined the US-led boycott against Soviet Union for the invasion of Afghanistan.

In 1996, Hassan join Malaysia national beach soccer team. He played in the Beach Soccer World Cup 1999 as well.

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7. Isa Bakar (Striker)

Played for :MalaysiaPenang

Isa Bakar (born 25th December, 1952) was a striker who represented the Malaysian national football team in the 1970s. He played for Penang FA in Malaysia's domestic competition.

His goal poaching prowess in his heyday back in the early 1970s, made him a household name and a feared man on the pitch in Asia. He partnered the legendary Mokhtar Dahari when they played for the country together.

Together with goalkeeper R. Arumugam, defenders Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun, and midfielders Reduan Abdullah and Shukor Salleh, the team was a powerful force in the 1970s.

Isa hails from a football-loving family. His three brothers have also played for the state and national teams. His brother Ali Bakar was a notable national midfielder.

Isa rose to fame while playing for Malayawata in the Penang League in his teenage years. He later joined the Penang Port Commission and played for them in the FAM soccer competition. He later joined the Northern Telecoms.

Isa played in the national team who won the bronze medal in the 1974 Teheran Asian Games in Iran. Isa’s two goals gave Malaysia a 2-1 win over North Korea in the third-place playoff.

He was also part of the Malaysia Cup-winning Penang side in 1974.

He was a profilic striker and formed a deadly combination with Mokhtar Dahari.

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8.M.Chandran (Defender)

M. Chandran is one of the most accomplished footballer Malaysia has produced, judging from the scale of honors and success he garnered in a 15-year career beginning in the early 1960s when the country was a pioneer in the then hatching continent’s organization of tournaments and quadrennial sports festivals in which football was the most popular attraction until his retirement as coach in 1974.

Born in Sungai Siput, Perak in 1942, Chandran rose from obscurity as a fringe player in the state team of Selangor, a support of the game in the country, to become a foundation in defense for both state and national teams. The skipper’s armband for both state and country was the inevitable high point of a career that was as solid as the role he played in defense. With 163 international caps and having led the national team to their highest level ever, M. Chandran has firmly etched his name in the annals of the greatest defender.

The crown of that career was country’s qualification for the 1972 Munich Olympics, disposing of the likes of South Korea and Japan in the qualifiers, an achievement that was more promising for reason his leadership as team captain. That achievement coupled along with a bronze medal at the 1974 Asian Games capped a playing career that saw him win every laurel that was obtainable to a national and state footballer.

In addition, Chandran turned out for the country in every regional and continental sports festival throughout his career, such as the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games and the Asian Games. Chandran represented the country over a 10 year period, four as its captain. He turned out for the state of Selangor over a 15 year period, five as its skipper.

For a player of his length of service to country and state, Chandran’s career was singular in being free of controversy, a feature that made for an easy transition to coach for the Selangor and national team. Chandran was coach of the national team for four years and guided the Selangor state team for five years, winning the top domestic honors in the latter role. After his stint as a coach, he was co-opted into the technical committee of the Football Association of Malaysia, a position he holds till today.

Chandran was honored with the state title of ‘Dato’, a coveted recognition granted by the royal house of the state of Pahang in 2000, for services to football. Presently, Chandran is attached to the FIFA Development Office, Kuala Lumpur, handling financial matters that draw on his long experience in two banks where he worked until his retirement at the age of 55 in 1997. Chandran was coach of the national team in 1982 and led them to President’s Cup, Merlion Cup, Merdeka Tournament and the Asian Games.

Achievements
- 1968 Selected for Asian All Stars against Arsenal
- 1972 Malaysia National Football Team qualified in the Olympics, Munich
- 1974 Asian Games – Bronze
- 1980 Malaysia National Football Team qualified in the Olympics, Moscow
- 1988 National Football Team Coach
- 2000 Received the title ‘Dato’ by the royal house of Pahang

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9.Abdul Ghani MInhat (Striker)

Born in 1935, Ghani Minhat was put on the path of professional football by a pair of boots he received from Police Officers sometime in 1951. In those days, only professionals wore football boots and Ghani saw this as a calling for him to upgrade his skills.

By 1952 he had earned a place in the Police Depot team. This became his stepping stone to earning a place on the Selangor squad in the Malaysia (then Malaya) Cup series. The left-winger helped to bring in eight Malaya Cup wins and three Merdeka Football Tournament (“Pestabola Merdeka”) wins. He was also part of the victorious team in the 1961 SEAP Games (now SEA Games) in Rangoon.

One of the finest forwards of the 60s, Ghani’s superb skills became evident when he fired a volley from 40 yards to score a goal against Vietnam at the inaugural Merdeka Tournament in 1957. Together with fellow team mates Robert Choe and Arthur Koh, he created a fearsome attack.

Until today, Ghani cherishes his many experiences during his days as Malaysia’s top footballer. One of his most invaluable experiences was being sent on attachments to several clubs in England (West Ham United, Arsenal, Spurs) and Germany (Eintracht Frankfurt) in 1962. England’s Cardiff City also offered him a chance to go pro, which he declined, choosing instead to go on a study tour of England and Europe. After he stepped down as a player, the FAM sent him to Japan in 1969, to attend the first FIFA Coaching School for Asian Coaches, earning him his coaching license.

In those glory days of Malaysian football, Ghani Minhat became a household name and displayed a wealth of talent on the field. But equally important, or perhaps more so, was his determination, grit and desire to win which really made Dato’ Ghani a shining football star.

Syed Ahmad (born 2o, April, 1946) is a former Malaysian striker. He has played for Prisons Malaysia, Johor, Perak, Kedah and the national team.

He is best remembered for scoring 5 goals for Malaysia in the 1971 Olympics Qualification matches against Japan, South Korea and Taiwan that enabled Malaysia to qualify for 1972 Munich Olympics. This includeds a hattrick against Japan and a goal each against South Korea and Taiwan. As a result, he was voted the best player in the qualification rounds along with other Malaysia players, M.Chandran and Wong Kam Fook.

He also played in the Malaysian team that won bronze medal in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, Iran. He scored 2 goals against Israel in a group match in that tournament.

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11.Shaharuddin Abdullah (Striker)

Played for :Malaysia : 1967-1982Penang : 1967-1982

Shaharuddin Abdullah (born on 28.8.1948) was once one of the most feared strikers in Malaysia. He was known as "Harimau Malaysia" due to his ability to score goals. He once scored 15 goals for Malaysia in the Merdeka Cup tournament which stood as a record for a very long time.

His playing career in the 1960s until 1980s involves 3 decades of excellence during the times of such great players as Ghani Minhat, Syed Ahmad Syed Abu Bakar, N.Thanabalan, Wong Choon Wah dan Mokhtar Dahari.

He started to play football when he was 9 years old. He used the Marin Sg.Gelugor field near his house to learn the football skills. His father Abdullah MOhammad was a goalkeeper for Penang in the 1950s. But he soon become a good striker instead.He helped his school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gelugor, to win the district and inter-school championships.

In 1964, he was selected to play for the Penang Burnley CUp team along with his brother, Namat, Ali Bakar, Khalil Hashim, Cha Peng Chiang, Yap Kim Kok, Mohamad Bakar and N Baskaran. He won the Burnely Cup with Penang in 1969.

He played for Malaysia in the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was also a part of the team that won bronze medal in the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran, Iran.

Played for :Malaysia : 1984-1996 (Played : 138, Goals : 78)Selangor : 1980-1982,1985-1990,1997-1999 (Played : 215, Goals : 125)Pahang : 1983-1984,1991-1996 (Played : 152, Goals : 68)Striker Zainal Abidin Hassan is a household name in Malaysia, having played mostly for Selangor and Pahang alternately since 1980 up to 1999. Switching sides between teams is the nature of the game, but rarely does a player switch back and forth exclusively between two teams, and that is exactly what Zainal has done throughout his playing days.He started playing in the Selangor senior team in 1980 at the age of 18, and in his first stint for the Red Giants, he scored 21 goals in 41 competitive matches, before he moved to Pahang in 1982. His prowess did not go unnoticed at the national level, and he would go to represent Malaysia at the SEA Games. Records show that he is one of the silver medalists of the 1981 SEA Games football competition. Zainal would go on to be one of the national squad regulars for the country in the subsequent editions of the competition.The year 1983 saw Zainal don the white and black of Pahang for the first time, and in his one year with the Elephants, he scored thirteen goals and helped them capture the 1983 Malaysia Cup.He however could not resist the calling of his birth state, and in 1985 he was back at the home stadium of Selangor at the time, the Merdeka Stadium. His ability kept on growing, but it was only in 1986 that he was able to capture the hallowed Malaysia Cup with the Red Giants. But it was only in the following year that he would be partnered up in one of the most famous striking partnership in the country's football; with Dollah Salleh when the Melaka-born forward transferred to Selangor from Johor. It was with Dollah that he helped Selangor capture back-to-back Malaysia Cups; in 1989 and 1990.The domestic success borne on the shoulders of the duo also spilled into the international level, when they helped Malaysia win the football SEA Games gold medal for the first time in ten years; in 1989. The fact that the competition was hosted by Malaysia also cemented their reputation further.So succesful were they, that when Zainal once again moved to Pahang in 1991, Dollah followed suit to spearhead the attacks of the Dream Team of 1992. The duo would play for Pahang until 1996, capturing the 1992 Malaysia Cup and Division 1 title; and the 1995 Division 1 championship, and scoring 131 goals between the two of them.He also featured for Malaysia in the inaugural AFF Cup (then called the Tiger Cup) in 1996, leading the Malayan Tigers to the final before losing to Thailand 1-0. He also emerged as the tournament's MVP, at the age of 35. He soon retired from international football, although he would return for a final hurrah with Selangor in 1997 (minus Dollah), and played for them until his club football retirement in 1999.He then swapped his football boots for futsal shoes for awhile, to help the then fledgling Malaysia futsal team, although he would then take up managerial and coaching positions with several teams such as the Under 17 national team, and Shahzan Muda. He then reunited with Dollah Salleh at Pahang in 2011, with Dollah as the head coach and he as the team manager. ------------------------------------------------------------14.Wong Choon Wah (Midfielder)

Wong Choon Wah was one of the earliest Malaysian footballers to blaze the professional trail when he played for Hong Kong's South China Athletic Association from 1972 to 1974. He was also fixture of the national team in the 1970s and played all three of Malaysia's matches at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Wong Choon Wah debut as a player in 1968 with the Selangor FA Malaysian at 21 years of age. He won the club the Malaysia Cup three times. Played at the club for four years before moving to South China AA in Hong Kong . He won the Hong Kong First Division , the top league in the country, in 1972 and 1974. Finally returned to Selangor FA where he won back the Malaysia Cup on three occasions. He finally retired as a player in 1978 at 31 years of age.

He made his Malaysia Cup debut for Selangor in 1968 after impressing with the Selangor Chinese Recreatioin Club and was rather a luck charm for them. Selangor never lost a Malaysia Cup final when Wong was in the team, winning in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1975 and 1976. Wong memorably scored two goals in an 8-1 rout of Penang in his first final appearance in 1968.Wong Choon Wah played a total of seven games with the national team of Malaysia . He was summoned for the first time in 1970 but did not debut with them until 1972 to play in the Olympic Games in Munich 1972 , being eliminated in the first round by finishing third in the group stage in Group A, getting to play the three matches played by his team in the Olympics. Choon Wah also won numerous accolades with the national team, including victory in the 1974 Merdeka Tournament when they beat South Korea (1-0) in the final. He was also a member of the bronze medal squad at the Tehran Asian Games in 1974.

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15.Shukor Salleh (Midfielder)

Played for :
Malaysia : 1971-1980 (Played : 215)
Penang : 1966-1985

Shukor Salleh was a key midfield player for the Malaysian national team during the 1970s. He was often callled the "Mr.Cool" of the Malaysian national team for the way he steered the Malaysian midfield with calm and composed way. He won the 1977 Malaysian National Sportsman award for his contribution to the national team.

Shukor Salleh was born in Tanjung Bungah, Penang in 1948. He received his early education at Tanjung Bungah Malay School, before going to Tanjung Tokong English School. He then completed his high school education at St. Xavier Institution.

Shukor Salleh made his debut as a player with the Penang state team at the age of 18 in 1966. He went on to play for them until he was 37 in 1985. He won the Penang Men’s Athletes award in 1978/1979.

Shukor Salleh first played for the Malaysian national team at the age of 23 in 1971. He went on to play a total of 215 matches for Malaysia. He is the second most capped Malaysian player, behind Soh Chin Aun who played 252 matches for Malaysia.

He played for Malaysia at many international tournaments including SEA Games, Merdeka Cup tournament and Asian Games. He was a key player to the Malaysian team who qualified to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow which Malaysia boycotted.

Played for :
Malaysia : 1960s-1970s
Penang : 1960s-1970sLanguid, skilful, cultured yet hard working, Ali Bakar was a stylish midfielder who bossed the engine room with his fine technique and great passing range.

Plucked from the obscurity of playing for the Ramblers in 1965 and polished into becoming a star of the Prisons team, Ali formed the backbone of the much-vaunted Penang side in the 1970s alongside his younger brother Isa Bakar, the Abdullah siblings – Namat and Shaharuddin – Khalil Hashim and Shukor Salleh.

Capped more than 80 times, Ali was a part of the 1972 team that played in the Munich Olympics and was also given the honour of being the contingent’s flagbearer – the only footballer to enjoy the distinction.

He also represented Malaysia when it finished third in the 1974 Asian Games in Iran. Ali’s winning goal against South Korea earned Malaysia a place in the semi-finals as Jalil Che Din’s men bagged the bronze in the Asian Games.

Also in 1974, he was part of the Malaysia Cup-winning Penang side. After two years, he also helped Penang side to win the international tournament, Aga Khan Gold Cup held in Dhaka.

A header specialist who could emerge from the blind side or simply out-jump defenders who were taller than him, Arthur Koh was a symbol of the renowned Selangor side in the 1960s.

Although often being dwarfed by his markers, Arthur was blessed with a pair of strong calf muscles that enabled him to win aerial duels, a huge asset in combining with Ghani Minhat and Robert Choe as the nation’s attacking triumvirate.

Testimony to his headline-grabbing thunderbolt headers were his two goals as Malaya beat Hong Kong to win the 1959 Merdeka Tournament.

Alongside Ghani, Arthur spearheaded the Selangor 1963 side to a staggering 106 goals in just 15 matches en route to the Malaya Cup title.

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19.Chow Chee Keong (Goalkeeper)

Played for :
Malaysia : 1960s-1970sChow Chee Keong was a goalkeeper who spend the majority of his career playing in the Hong Kong League.

Those who remember will vouch for him as one of the best Malaysian goalkeepers of all time due to his agility in defending his goal.

In fact, in a poll conducted by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFHHS), Chow was voted by journalists and former players as one of the best Asian goalkeepers of the 20th century.

And that was not all; his repertoire included a short stint with the West Ham United youth team in England, representing Malaysia at the tender age of 15 (FIFTEEN!) against Swedish side Djurgårdens IF Fotboll, and playing against Brazil icon Pele during his time at Hong Kong Rangers.

He was also an exponent in karate, taekwondo and kung-fu as well.

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20.Abdullah Yeop Nordin (Defender)

Played for :

Malaysia : 1960s
Perak : 1960sAgile, strong, determined, tough-tackling and truly committed to the game, Abdullah Nordin was captain courageous for the Malaysian side from 1966 to 1969.

Hailed from Parit, Perak, Abdullah grew up kicking pomelo fruits, a habit that contributed to his powerful shots.

The highlight of his international career was lifting the Merdeka Cup in 1968 after getting a recall from manager Datuk Harun Idris and coach Harold Hassall.

He played for Perak for three seasons before a job at Bank Negara brought him to Selangor. Abdullah’s game was all about substance – grit, passion and determination – rather than style.

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21.N.Thanabalan (Striker)

Played for :

Malaysia : 1960s

Selangor : 1960s

N.Thanabalan was a striker, famous for being ruthless in front of goal.Thanabalan first represented Malaysia when he was 17 years old at the 1960 Asian Youth tournament and later graduated to the senior team from 1963 to 1971. He had earned 107 caps playing for the country and was a nippy and skilful striker that put fear in opponents’ heart.Not many knew the extreme passion Thanabalan had for the game. He played the 1968 Medeka tournament final on the eve of his wedding day. In the 1968 Merdeka Tournament, he demonstrated his skill at the very best and scored eight goals in six matches as Malaysia won the trophy by beating then Asian powerhouse Burma (now Myanmar) in the final.He also scored four goals for Selangor in their big 8-1 win over Penang in the 1968 Malaysia Cup final, a record that has yet to be broken to date and earned him a special award from the Ex-State & Ex-National Footballers Association of Malaysia in 2011.As a national player, Thanabalan had represented Malaysia at the Merdeka Tournament, SEAP Games, Asian Games, Kings Cup in Thailand and Vietnam Cup.He also represented Malaysia in friendly matches against Arsenal FC, Asian All Stars and the Western Australian team.-----------------------------------------------------------